Sled ski



Jan. 10, 1967 W. R. JENKS SLED SKI Filed Dec, 21, 1964 L7 7 BY m am H M 0 INVENTOR ILBUR R. JE/wrs TTORNEY United States Patent "ice 3,297,334 SLED SKI Wilbur R. Jenks, 1850 Cedar St, White Bear Lake, Minn. 55110 Filed Dec. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 419,808 4 Claims. (Cl. 28012) This invention relates to an improvement in sled skis, and deals particularly with a ski supporting a seat so that the skier may rest in a sitting position.

Numerous single runner sleds have been produced, usually designed for use by children sliding down a snow covered hill. Many of these sleds are relatively costly to produce due to the manner employed of supporting the seat. For the most part, devices of the type in question are also relatively expensive to produce and are heavy to carry. As the ski must usually be carried up the hill by the child, weight is an item of importance to the popularity of the device.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a ski sled having a resiliently supported seat. The seat is preferably supported by a single strip of spring steel or similar material, which permits the seat to flex upwardly and downwardly as the ski travels over on even ground. This not only enhances the comfort of the skier, but also adds to the thrill of skiing.

A further feature of the present invention, resides in the provision of a ski sled which can be shipped and stored in an extremely compact shape. The lower end of the seat support is secured to the body of the ski by extending the lower end of the seat support into a socket formed between a clamping plate and the upper surface of the ski. Means are provided for detachably connecting the lower end of the seat support in the socket. The upper end of the seat support is bolted or similarly attached to the seat. Vlhen the parts are detached, they may be packaged in a compact form which is preferably not essentially larger than is required for the packaging of the ski body itself.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of the device of the type described, in which the seat is provided with a pair of slots near opposite ends thereof, designed to accommodate the hand of the skier. As a result, the ski may be more effectively controlled than would otherwise be the case.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention, will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the ski sled in readiness for operation.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the ski sled illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the ski sled.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view, the position of the section being indicated by the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

The ski sled is indicated in general by the letter A and includes three main parts; the ski body which is indicated in general by the numeral 10, the ski seat which is indicated in general by the numeral 11, and the ski seat support which is indicated in general by the numeral 12. The actual construction will be described in detail.

The ski body 10, includes an elongated flat strip of wood or other suitable material, usually having a square rear end 13, and a rounded forward end 14. The rounded forward end 14, is curved upwardly as indicated at 15, in order to slide over the surface of the snow without digging into it to any material extent.

A clamping plate 16, is attached to the upper surface' of the fiat body portion 17, of the ski the clamping plate preferably being narrower in width than the ski 3,297,334 Patented Jan. 10, '1 967 body 17, and centered between the longitudinal edges of the body portion. The clamping plate 16, is secured in a position usually slightly forwardly the length of the ski so as to position the seat 11, somewhat near the center of the length of the ski. The clamping plate 16, is preferably provided with a rounded forward end 17, which will act to separate any snow engaging the forward edge of the clamping plate, rather than to provide an abutment therefor. The clamping plate 16, is held in position by screws such as 19 or other suitable means.

The under surface of the body portion 17, of the ski, may if desired, be grooved or ripped in a conventional manner to prevent side slipping if it is so desired. As such construction is common practice, it isnot illustrated in the drawings.

As will be noted from the drawings, and particularly, FIGURE 4, thereof, an elongated rectangular socket 20, is provided in the under surface of the clamping plate 16, extending longitudinally of the clamping plate and intermediate side edges thereof. This socket is designed to accommodate a portion of the seat support-12, as will be later described. The socket 20, is approximately the same cross-sectional shape and size as the seat support 12.

The seat support 12, includes a lower end portion 21, which extends into the socket 20. Apertures 22, extending through the end 21, are registrable with apertures 23 in the center portion of the clamping plate 16. Bolts or similar fastening means 24 have heads on their lower ends which are countersunk into the bottom surface of the ski body 17, and extend through the aligned apertures 22, 23. Nuts 18 are provided on the bolts 24 above the plate 16 to hold the end 21 of the seat support 12, in place in the socket.

The seat support 12, is bent as indicated at 25, to extend upwardly and rearwardly at a slight angle to the vertical, this inclined portion being indicated by the numeral 26. At the upper end of the support portion 26, the support is bent as indicated at 27, to provide a generally horizontally extending portion 29, which is designed to underlie the seat 11.

The seat 11 is preferably of a width substantially equal to the width of the ski body 17, so that when detached from the seat support, the seat may be turned at right angles to extend longitudinally of the body to permit the packaging of the unit in a rectangular container which is no longer than is required to package the ski 10, itself. The ends of the seat 11, which form the longitudinal sides of the seat when the seat is in operative position, preferably rounded as indicated at 30, in order to prevent square corners capable of striking a spectator. Archaic slots 31, are provided inwardly of the rounded edges 31, designed to accommodate the fingers of the hand to facil itate the manipulation of the ski and to assist the skier to balance himself. The center portion of the seat 11, is preferably bolted to the horizontal portion 29, of the seat support 12, by bolts such as 32. To simplify the assembly, the bolts 32 are located so that the seat may be assembled with either longitudinal edge foremost.

The seat support 12, is formed of spring steel or similar resilient material, and the proportions of the seat support are such that the seat support may be placed on edge of the upper surface of the ski body 17, without projecting to a level above the rounded tip portion 14, of the ski. As a result, the entire assembly may be packaged in any elongated rectangular container of no greater size than is required for the packaging of the ski itself.

In assembling the ski, it is only necessary to insert the lower end portion 21, of the seat support 12, in the socket 20, and to fasten the support in place by the screws 24. The seat 11, may then be bolted on the upper end por- 6 tion 29, of the seat support to complete the assembly.

It will be seen that in view of the fact, the seat support is slightly inclined and is anchored at one end to the ski body and at the other end to the seat, the seat is free to fiex resiliently during the skiing operation. At the same time, the ski sled may be completely disassembled and repacked in its original container when not in use.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my ski sled; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A ski sled including:

a ski body comprising an elongated flat wooden strip having an upwardly curved forward end,

a clamping plate secured to the upper surface of said strip intermediate the ends thereof and defining on its under surface a rearwardly opening socket of substantially rectangular section,

a seat support having a forward end portion detachably engageable in said socket and an intermediate portion extending upwardly from said strip,

a seat, and

means detachably connecting said seat to the upper end of said ski support.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including threaded means extending through said clamping plate and said 30 forward end of said slat support and into said strip to hold said heat support engaged in said socket.

4 3. A ski sled including: a ski body comprising an elongated flat wooden strip having an upturned forward end, a clamping plate secured to said strip and including a socket of generally rectangular cross-section in the under surface of the plate and opening rearwardly,

a seat support including a resilient bar bent to provide a lower portion, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion, and an upper rearwardly extending portion,

said lower portion being of generally similar crosssectional shape to said socket and engaged in said socket,

detachable means securing said lower end portion in said socket,

a seat secured to said upper rearwardly extending portion of said seat support and resiliently supported by said seat support.

4. The structure of claim 3, and in which said seat is transversely elongated and includes finger slots therethrough rear opposite ends thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 109,368 11/1870 Allen 297302 1,655,713 1/1928 Scoville 28012 2,537,071 1/1951 Lukins 297294 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Examiner.

M. S. SALES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SKI SLED INCLUDING: A SKI BODY COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FLAT WOODEN STRIP HAVING AN UPWARDLY CURVED FORWARD END, A CLAMPING PLATE SECURED TO THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID STRIP INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF AND DEFINING ON ITS UNDER SURFACE A REARWARDLY OPENING SOCKET OF SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR SECTION, A SEAT SUPPORT HAVING A FORWARD END PORTION DETACHABLY ENGAGEABLE IN SAID SOCKET AND AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID STRIP, 